ART

Moraga Art Gallery will celebrate its Grand Re-opening at #522 Center St in the Rheem Center by featuring the work of Gallery Member & local artist Angelica Samame, painter, as well as guest artist, Karin Lechner, jewelry designer, in its new show, Jan. 10, 2012. The public is invited to view Angelica's art and Karin's jewelry along with gallery members' work at the show's opening reception & Grand Re-opening celebration, Jan.14, 3-5 p.m.

MUSIC

Kick off the New Year right with a free concert at the Moraga Library January 12 at 7 pm featuring local sensation Houston Jones. This high-energy quintet of acoustic musicians from the San Francisco Bay area play an original blend of folk, blues, bluegrass and gospel; they often have their audiences up and dancing. This concert is FREE and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Visit the calendar of events at www.ccclib.org to preregister or call the Moraga Library at 925)376-6852.

Come to an exciting afternoon of African music and dance with master percussionist Ben Ofori and the Bodac Cultural Group, an international African performing arts group that originated in West Africa, on Saturday, January 14 at 2pm. This all-ages program is free and pre-registration is not required. The Library is located at 1500 Saint Marys Rd in Moraga. For more information call (925) 376-6852, ext 200.

AUDITIONS

Placement Auditions for Contra Costa Children's Chorus. Children who like to sing -inspire the artist within and join an internationally known chorus recognized for excellence, vocal training and performance skills. There are choir levels for all boys and girls ages 6-15 yrs. with local performances, and touring opportunities for advanced choirs. Artistic Director, Dr. Martin Benvenuto, conductors Laryssa Sadoway and Julie Fischer. Choirs rehearse at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd. Call for an appointment, 925 945-7101 x3, or email Frontdesk@childrenschorus.org.

WomenSing is holding auditions on January 10, 2012, and by appointment for experienced singers. All voice parts are welcome. Contact us by email at audition@womensing.org, call our voice mail (925) 974-9169, or go to www.womensing.org for more info. Scholarships are available for qualified singers.

THEATER

Saint Mary's College Performing Arts Department presents a stage adaptation of the classic fairytale Hansel & Gretel. The story has the audience travel to the Black Forest to see two abandoned children cope with all the changes that come with being on their own. This tale by the Grimm Brothers is a traditional fairytale of good and evil. The barely two page story is elaborated into a magical hour of child-focused entertainment. When: Wednesday, January 25 at 7pm; Thursday, January 26 at 4pm. Where: LeFevreTheatre, Saint Mary's College, Moraga. Cost: $8. INFO: (925) 631-4670 or go online to: brownpapertickets.com.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

So You Want to Write a Book: Author Panel - four local authors discuss their writing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers on Saturday, January 7, 2pm, Moraga Library 1500 St. Mary's Road, Moraga; (925) 376-6852. The panel of authors includes: Barbara Bentley (A Dance with the Devil: A True Story of Marriage to a Psychopath), Jon Cory (A Plague of Scoundrels), Alfred J. Garrotto (The Saint of Florenville: A Love Story), Judith Marshall (Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever). Q & A session to follow. Free and open to the public.

Saint Mary's College Speaker Series brings provocative speakers from the worlds of art, politics, science and technology to the campus and the entire community at free public lectures during the month of January. The featured guest speakers for 2012, which explores the theme of "Crossing Borders," includes: Jeanne Woodford, who after carrying out four executions as the Director of California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), now heads up a national organization opposing the death penalty (speaking Tues, Jan 10, 7pm); San Francisco cultural historian Rebecca Solnit, who will explore how borders between public and private life are policed, ways they break open in crisis, and what happens when people cross over to live together in public, as in the Occupy Movement (speaking Tues, Jan 17, 7pm); and Oakland-based hip hop artist, community activist and playwright Ariel Luckey, who will offer insights on the consequences of seeing history only through the prism of white privilege (speaking Tues, Jan 17, 7pm.) All lectures are free and open to the public and will be in the Soda Activity Center at Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Road, Moraga.
For more information contact the Jan Term office at 925-631-4771 or janterm@stmarys-ca.edu.

OTHER

The importance of women receiving a quality education will be the focus of the January meeting of the American Association of University Women, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette Branch (AAUW/OML). Betty Marvin, an architectural historian, will bring the famous 19th century female architect, Julia Morgan, to life, by dramatizing the challenges Ms. Morgan faced getting her engineering degree at the University of California in the 1890's. The second speaker, Yalda Asmatey, will speak about her current research, "How Green is My Valley: An Ethnographic Inquiry of Man-Made Toxic Disasters in the San Joaquin Valley." The meeting begins at 9am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at the Holy Trinity Serbian Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The public is invited to attend. For further information, visit www.aauwoml.org.

Lafayette Community Center Will be offering a FREE Introduction to Yoga class on Saturday, January 7, 11am-12:15pm with yoga instructor Howard VanEs. This is the perfect way for people to try out yoga with a highly experinced instructor without having to make a commitment first. The class is free but space is limited. Call (925) 284-2232 to reserve your spot today.

On Friday, January 20, 2012 Gary Bogue, who is a writer and whose daily column on pets, wildlife and environmental issues has appeared in Contra Costa newspapers since 1970, will speak on "Creatures of the Urban Wilderness - Your Backyard". Mr. Bogue has also been Museum Curator at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and Executive Director of Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation. The program is at 10:30am with a plant sale and refreshments starting at 9am. The event is free and the public is cordially invited. The event is held at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda.

Lafayette resident John Kiefer will again offer workshops on "How to Raise Your Own Chickens." Topics will include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Workshops are free and will be held from 1-3:30 pm, Sunday, Jan.22, Feb. 5 & 19. Reservations are required. Contact: jhkiefer@comcast.net.

Knights of Columbus Council's Annual Crab Feed will be held on Saturday January 28, 2012 in St. Monica's Peace Room, Moraga. Appetizers and no-host cocktails will be served beginning at 6pm. Dinner will be served at 7:30pm and will include salad, pasta, French bread, fresh cracked crab and dessert. Chicken is available when ordered in advance. Tickets are $55 each. You may contact Karl Anderson at (925) 283-3679 or mail your checks to Karl at 510 Florence Drive, Lafayette.

CLUBS

"Valley Stitchers Guild's January 2 meeting will feature a presentation by Carol Larson, a long time creative seamstress. Carol's love of color, texture, and pattern led to a lifetime of interest in wearable art, hand-weaving, knitting and needlepoint. Today she works in mixed media using multiple layers of dyes, selective dye removal and screen printing with original imagery. Layers of stitching complete her work which can be seen in corporate offices, museums, galleries and private collections in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 2, 10am, Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Woodsworth Lane, Pleasant Hill. $5 for guests. Contact Francine for more information (925) 689-6311.

My Adventures as a Commercial Pilot-Jess Williams recalls his days of flying to Vietnam, Europe, Africa, and North American cities at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Dr., Lafayette, for the Men's Breakfast Club Saturday, January 7. Doors open at 7:30am, breakfast at 8, and the program at 8:40. $5 donation suggested. For reservations, call Richard (925) 283-8376.